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He told Wilkins: “The only way to describe your behaviour is that you were a menace.

“Society pays for the cost to business and banks of identity fraud.”

The court heard how the fraudster was receiving treatment at Bath’s Royal United Hospital when he struck up a rapport with patient Paul Walker.

Wilkins tricked a fellow patient at the RUH (Image: Artur Lesniak)

Wilkins was able to snaffle credit and debit card details and notched up a £289 bill at the Abbey Hotel, before fraudulently buying a £34.94 watch online from jeweller H Samuel.

He then went shopping, perusing Sharps and Flats music shop and asking for a mug and two pairs of socks worth £21.97 to be put by, before “a friend” paid for them by telephone and he returned to collect them.

Wilkins then stayed at Pratt’s Hotel, where his offers of gynaecology services were declined, before he racked up a £237.97 bill.

He also treated himself to some online shopping, buying a £603.97 laptop computer from PC World and a £36.90 laptop bag to put it in, from John Lewis.

Wilkins was arrested after being identified by hotel staff, but was bailed without interview due to his poor health.

The court heard Wilkins was located later at HMP Cardiff, was again bailed and then turned up in a prison in Northern Ireland. He was arrested when he returned to the UK this year.

Edward Hetherington, defending, said his client professed to be a medical doctor and suffered a range of ailments including high blood pressure, heart disease and a spinal condition which causes him permanent discomfort.

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He said: “Although the circumstances were distasteful the loss was not borne out by the individuals concerned. It is still a loss. It is not personal loss that would add a degree of insult to the ill-health of those taken into hospital.”

The court heard wheelchair-bound Wilkins was suffering at HMP Exeter, which he finds difficult to manoeuvre in and spends most of his time in his cell, on mattresses on the floor due to difficulty accessing his bed.